Thinking of tackling Route 66 for its centenary?

German H.O.G.^® member Kai-Ingmar Weikert shares his recommendations for the trip of a lifetime down Route 66

I have been riding motorcycles since I was 16 and have owned several models over the years. Like many other bikers, my life has had its ups and downs, but motorcycling has always been a constant and important part for me. When I retired about a year ago, it was only natural to realise my big dream: to ride Route 66. After planning for about six months, the time had finally come. Of course, I asked my motorcycling friends if they wanted to join me, but unfortunately they had already planned their annual holidays and had no more time to spare. I really felt for the first time then that as a pensioner, you are in a much more comfortable position to be flexible and spontaneous.

At the end of August, I boarded a plane to Los Angeles, California. Although I have some experience with long trips, I still put a lot of effort into thoroughly sorting out my luggage. Some things were thrown out, others were added. In the end, I can say that it was worth the effort. The time I spent reading up on the route was also time well spent. I had planned three weeks, so I absorbed everything I could find about the route. I then compiled my own ‘road book’. This meant that I already knew my destinations along the ride in advance and made for a very relaxed tour.

After picking up my hired Road Glide^® in Los Angeles, my first stop was to call in at the local Harley-Davidson dealership for a souvenir. I then headed out of the city and travelled to Las Vegas, Nevada, via Barstow. Along the way, I stopped at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, a fascinating piece of artistry in the middle of the desert, called in at Roy’s Motel and Café – a little run down but absolutely iconic! – and explored the colourful Seven Magic Mountains installation.

In Las Vegas itself, I was most impressed by the Sphere. And yes, I know Las Vegas isn’t on Route 66, but it was a personal wish of mine – hence the small detour. My way back to Route 66 took me over the Hoover Dam to Kingman, Arizona. I took some obligatory photographs at the entrance to the town, then continued along a route that I would highly recommend: visit Oatman and ride down The Sidewinder. It’s an eight-mile section of Route 66 that incorporates 191 curves. The Oatman Hotel (with its dollar bill-covered walls and ceilings) and the donkeys in the town are also must-sees.

Next up were Prescott and Flagstaff, then it began to get a little hilly as you follow winding country roads. From here, it got noticeably greener every day the further east I went. If you have time, I recommend visiting Williams and seeing the Grand Canyon Railway. Bedrock City is also a fun stop if you want to follow in the footsteps of the Flintstones! My journey continued to Winslow (a must for me, having grown up listening to The Eagles), then into New Mexico through Gallup, Santa Fe (I was very excited see this up close – many films I remember from my childhood were shot here) and Tucumcari. I stopped at the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, then saw some more cars – namely Cadillacs – in Amarillo, half-buried in the sand. Steak fans will also get their money’s worth in Amarillo… anyone who manages to eat a 2kg steak, with side dishes, in less than an hour gets their meal for free! If you don’t quite make it, you’ll be set back around $72.

I continued on to more colourful sights at Slug Bug Ranch and Pops 66 Soda Ranch in Oklahoma, passing the Golden Driller and other gigantic figures by the roadside in Tulsa. I rode on to Springfield, Missouri – I passed through many interesting places, but one I would particularly like to highlight is Schifferdecker Park in Joplin. Artists are regularly given the opportunity to draw Route 66 motifs in the asphalt, mostly with 3-D effects.

Following the road on to St Louis, then another Springfield (this time in Illinois), I found that history came to the fore once again when the road surface turned to bricks. It made for a memorable ride as I headed towards my final destination: Chicago. After 21 days on the road and more than 5,000km covered, I felt very satisfied as I rode into the city at the end of my adventure. For me, it was a dream come true – a great feeling!

At a glance: Kai’s top five stops